Hey guys,

I'm new to riding and have done a course already. I'm trying to decide on a bike for myself and for my wife. We're still shopping around but two we liked so far is the Suzuki S40 http://moto.suzuki.ca/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/Boulevard%20S40/2009/S40.a spx?category=cruiser and my so far favorite Suzuki M50 http://moto.suzuki.ca/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/Boulevard%20M50/2009/M50Z. aspx?category=cruiser. So my question is, how strong of a bike is recommended for a beginner?

On one hand I was thinking the 650cc S40 as it's lighter, easier to handle, not as powerful so I can ease into it, on the other hand the M50 is one I feel really comfortable sitting in, I might keep for much longer, and won't give me trouble on the highway in terms of power requirements?

I'm about 5'11", 180 lbs and the wife is 5'5", 130 lbs. We just plan to ride around town, but also to do highway day trips. Highways here are 110 km/h (68 mph) and I hear the S40 starts to feel have trouble at around 60-70 mph? If it helps, the S40 I saw is $4,600 (2008 model) and the M50 is $7,100 (2009).

We'll each be getting our own, but the wife was thinking the 800 cc for herself over the 650 cc when I told her about the S40 and highway issues. 

I have a 750cc Honda, and although I don't have a lot of experiance with a rider on the back I'd say if you and your wife, as small as both of you are, plan to ride on the same bike I'd go with the 800cc bike. The extra power will help you get off the line a little quicker.

Plus, you said the M50 is comfortable sitting on. My bike has a seat that feels like it's made of concrete after about 40 minutes. You absolutely want one you feel comfortable sitting on, and the bigger bike will mean both of you will have more room and make for comfortable, longer rides.

Altho it sounds to me like you want the big bad boy and need some convincing that it's a good idea. So, go for it, buy the big bike. 

We'll each be getting our own

Jesus christ, Apparently I checked out and stopped reading before the last sentence.

Buy the big bike anyway. Comfort is a big factor in ridability. 

I dunno glace, but i don't like the s40, it's too small. 

Heh, owning and loving a 250cc,
I find it funny when y'all say 650cc is "too small."

I love having a light and nimble bike,
but I'll probably up it to 500cc or 600cc in a year or two. 

Heh, owning and loving a 250cc,
I find it funny when y'all say 650cc is "too small."

Ditto

I love having a light and nimble bike,
but I'll probably up it to 500cc or 600cc in a year or two.

For me It'll be when my bike is getting up there in miles and my gf gets a license and wants to ride her own. Then I'll give her mine and get myself a bigger one. 

I'd say it's too small to go on "highway day trips".

I love smaller bikes, but mine are both 1.2 liters or more. 

I was basing the too small based on two riders. The 650 is plenty of power to move a body, hell I learned on a 250. I think the comfort factor is much more important.

I know my ass is not happy after an hour or so. If I had a more comfortable seat, I could go on forever. 

1995 Kawasaki ZX6R, thoughts, opinions?

I found someone selling theirs for $15k has less than 14k miles 

Soreign said:

1995 Kawasaki ZX6R, thoughts, opinions?

I found someone selling theirs for $15k has less than 14k miles

$15k????? only costed $10k new, wtf??? 

i assume he means 1.5 

I would hope so 

you never know, there is one born every minute... 

If so, then Soreign -$13,500 

yeah sorry I meant 1500 

Seems like an OK deal 

Nothing I can really say to a sport bike... Just don't know a whole lot about them.

Today is the first day where the weather is decent in weeks. And of course its a day I have off work. Where I have a ton of things I need to take care of so I can't go riding. And by the time I do have everything done its supposed to be raining again... Figures ;) 

I'm in a bit of a pickle.

I have $1500 cash and I need transportation.

I found the Kawasaki which I want, the back tire is at about 30% not sure how much it would cost to buy one.
As some of you may or may not recall I have been looking for a motorcycle very long time for a bike and can now finally afford it.
It's been 2 years since I got my license and I haven't had the joy of a motorcycle since.

But I also found this car for the same price. It's clean and runs very good, and would be reliable.
My wife says I should get the car cause it's safer and dry in bad weather, and I should get a bike later for more recreational purposes.

I really am tied on pros and cons about the two, I couldn't care any less about the weather.

Any helpful advice you wiser gentlemen could lend a young fool? 

The back tire would probably be 200 bucks to buy and have installed... could be cheaper there though. 

Car = praactical
Bike = fun fun fun 

and back tires on bikes don't last long 8-10000 miles is about it on harleys, but bikes make it up in mileage, thats my story and I am sticking with it!!!!!!!!!! 

The car is practical and makes your wife happy.
The bike is fun, but an unhappy wife isn't.

If she likes riding and straddling you, get the bike now. 

if you cant ride a bike year round, and will need the transportation to help move people around, get the car for now 

Been a while since I've checked in having crashed the Ducati ages ago but I finally bought another jigga so I thought I'd share.

'89 R80 (800cc - BMW Airhead Boxer) with only 10,000km on the clock in pristine, showroom condition. Staintune pipes, new tyres, perfect engine - you just don't find these bikes in this condition.

It's kind of an old man's bike but I love it - and I just had a kid anyway so fast shit can wait for a little while.

http://i34.tinypic.com/erx46f.jpg

Whadyareckon? 

I think whoever calls that an old mans bike can suck my balls.
I'd love to have it. 

hey there you go!

(I retract my previous description of this as "an old man's bike" in order to avoid sucking OMA's balls) 

Man, when my bike runs (which is most of the time) it runs wonderfully,
but when it doesn't, which is entirely because of the spark plug design,
it makes me so frustrated.

The upside is that I can now take the fuel tank off the bike like second-nature!

I need to source a factory spark plug lead,
and get the charging system working properly.
/grumblegrumblegrumble... 

I took delivery of the R80 yesterday and have been wanging around on it ever since.

Things I love:

1. The extreme simplicity of the motor. The design of this thing is pretty much as it was in WW2. The idea of tinkering and tuning my Ducati used to put the fear in me. With this I'm going to be able to start doing a lot more maintenance myself.

2. The torque twist is rad.

3. Between 4000 - 5000 revs it just sounds amazing 

Nice and congrats. A year or two back I met this pretty cool guy out on a week long trip on his beemer. He mentioned this site to me and you might find it handy.

Tomorrow I might be able to get out, looking forward to it. 

Nice one Farnaby - thanks.

I'm definitely getting out tomorrow - got a bucks party about 3 hours up the coast. Been refusing rides all day, I know exactly how I'm getting out there. 

No prob, he was a really cool guy, we hung out and chatted for about an hour or so, still have his card somewhere at home.

Going to guess that a bucks party is a stag party... should be fun ;)

Tomorrow is iffy, I have a few things going on that I can hopefully take care of this evening. If so I will be out riding as its supposed to be about ... 60 I think. Nicest day in a while anyway. 

tomorrow is a vets poker run it will be in the 80s and beautiful out, a 50 mile ride to the mountains after where it will be in the 60s, desert living is great this time of year 

Shit I am just happy there isn't any snow on the ground right now.

Sun is setting around 4:45 at this point. 

Hey Road Whore, take it to the "I'm gonna rub your nose in it" thread....:D

On another note, I'm gonna change the fork oil this weekend.... 

Turns out I better get out... I am going to be turning down OT to go riding (and do some other things). 

ride when ever you can because you never know what tomorrow will bring, there is a protest ride today also, the kingman cops are pushing a couple of bar owners about guys wearing colors on there jackets( club members)in the bars, supposed to be a couple thousand riders, plus the vets poker run down here 

Rain here.... and cold
May be a few days till I can ride again :( 

DeMaxX said:

Rain here.... and cold
May be a few days till I can ride again :(

at least you stay a little drier on yours 

Damned little. 

Shit, I may not get the oils changed until tomorrow... 

I managed to get out for a good few hours on Saturday, that was a good feeling. Nothing yesterday but it still felt good on Saturday. 

Took off on the scooter yesterday only to get about a block from the house and it started raining again, oh well, you can't say I haven't been around the block..... once... 

Once...;) 

just once... :/ 

you been around a few blocks, over a few hills etc.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Front fork oil done.

Nice putt yesterday, about fifty miles.

Much needed. 

You aholes are singlehandedly destroying my environment. 

Just took a look at the indian bikes, gotta say the bomber is pretty good looking 

onemanarmy said:

You aholes are singlehandedly destroying my environment.

Clam it, punk, or next time, I'll finish the job...

;) 

gotta say the bomber is pretty good looking

the green and brown go together